Central Maine Community College basketball players often take roundabout journeys on their way to the Auburn campus.

There was Jon Wallingford, who suited up for the Mustang men even after walking on and eventually earning his way to a captaincy at the University of Maine.

Other men and women have bounced around multiple Division III institutions before finding a home in their own backyard.

Even among those stories, the accomplishments of Sara Martin are unique.

Martin, a native of Strong and graduate of Mt. Abram High School, attended Springfield (Mass.) College and was a starting middle infielder on the softball team at the University of Maine at Farmington.

“I had some injuries and stuff,” said Martin, who hadn’t given much thought to having nearly full basketball eligibility when she began working in the CMCC sports information office.

CMCC hadn’t played more than a handful of games in the fall semester of 2008 when Martin decided being a spectator wouldn’t cut it.

“I just thought it was about time for me to play basketball again, and I’m glad I did. I absolutely love it,” Martin said.

Now in her second winter and first full season with the Mustangs, Martin has emerged as one of the most dangerous 3-point shooters in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.

In a recent three-game stretch against Briarcliffe, Jon Abbot and the University of Maine at Augusta, Martin knocked down 16 shots from beyond the arc.

CMCC has won its first eight conference games this season. More than the success on the court, however, Martin ranks the team atmosphere ahead of anything she’s experienced in her travels.

“It sounds cliché to say, but it really is like a family,” Martin said. “We can call up Coach (Mike) Bridges at 10 o’clock at night if we need to. We all have each other’s back. That’s what I like.”

GREAT EIGHT

Martin is one of eight local players on the CMCC women’s hoop roster this winter.

Oxford Hills graduates Teira Durgin and Katie Martin have been mainstays since the opening tap.

Durgin continued her trend of double-digit scoring with 13 points in Wednesday’s 88-50 rout of UMA and 16 more in a 69-37 road triumph Friday over New Hampshire Institute of Technology.

Katie Martin, a 6-foot center, has emerged as a key figure in the paint for the guard-oriented Mustangs. She backed up a 15-point effort in the loss to John Abbot with 10 against Augusta.

The resurgent high school program at Oak Hill has sent three recent graduates to CMCC. Second-semester transfer Alex Donald joined Carrie Hayden and Emily Sabine with a flourish, scoring 16 points in her debut against UMA and chipping in 10 at NHTI.

Donald previously attended Maine Maritime.

“She’s going to be a big addition for us,” Bridges said.

Christy McAuliffe of Lisbon has spent most of the season in the Mustangs’ starting lineup, with Lindsay Henderson of Buckfield bringing key minutes off the bench.

DIAMOND DAYS

The CMCC winter news continues with a flurry of fall awards from traditional spring sports.

Confused? Well, there’s no mistaking this: The Mustangs swept the baseball and softball coach and player of the year awards in the Yankee Small College Conference.

Alex Smith of Mechanic Falls (Poland Regional High School) won the top YSCC baseball award, while Candace Hall of East Andover (Telstar) was his softball counterpart.

Smith was a threat at both the plate and on the mound. He batted .417 with six home runs and 24 RBIs. He picked up three pitching victories while weaving a 3.24 ERA.

“It feels good to be recognized, but I need to stay focused on the spring,” Smith said in a school news release.

In her first college semester, Hall was 5-1 with a 2.04 ERA and 31 strikeouts, exactly one per inning. She hit .440.

“I had the team behind me and the coaches encouraging me every day,” said Hall.

Additionally, baseball players Justin Staires of Mexico (Mountain Valley) and Kyle Bussiere of Auburn (Edward Little) joined Smith on the all-conference team. Kim Lawrence of Auburn earned that distinction with Hall for the softball squad.

Baseball coach Charles Bunyea and softball coach Scott Lovejoy also received their league’s highest honors.

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